Thursday, 30 June 2011

I must admit I have made the name of the "Greta Gorge" up! I can't really think of a better description of this area. The River Greta runs south of the A66 near Barnard Castle, it twists and turns deep in a wooded gorge for about 5km. I had never walked this before, but looked at it many times on the 1:25000 map. Today with Bill we walked down the south side of the gorge from Rotherford Bridge, downstream to Greta Bridge. After lunch we walked back to the car on the north side, passing through the ancient churchyard of St Marys, near Bignall. The path on either side wasn't used very much although we did see folk on both sides. The sun shone for much of the day, tempered by a cool breeze.

Sunday, 26 June 2011

A forecast for a really hot day meant it was time to get the motorbike out. I don't take the heat easily! I rode over Hartside to Alston and down Allendale to explore the area south of Hexham. The northern Pennines have given up great riches over the years, mineral wealth in lead, silver, and coal. I looked at many sites, mostly those which I had visited before. A new area though, Langley Mill, or rather the remains of it. The smeltmill chimney still stands at 100ft high, the flue from the mill is there if you know where to look and the chimney has its own name "Stublick".

Thursday, 23 June 2011

Finding myself near Campbeltown on the Mull of Kintyre, I had enough time to climb the short distance from the minor road to its summit. It is an excellent viewpoint, Ireland in particular seemingly much closer than it's 12 miles away. I didn't see any "Lice", but I did see a family of Mice!

Wednesday, 15 June 2011

A seat in the sun overlooking the estuary. Whitbarrow Scar in the background. The viaduct still out of action due to maintainence.
Arnside is just a handy distance for an evening ride, with lots of options for different routes.
Best part of the day!

Sunday, 12 June 2011

A business meeting in Chepstow on saturday gave me the chance to collect some Marilyns on the way back home. I got an early start and the first hill was Ruarden Hill, it's possible to drive past this top! Then a short drive to the woods below May Hill, the grass on here was really burnt by the sun although it was getting a good watering today. Up and down the same way. A rather longer drive up the A49 brought me to the group of hills round Craven Arms. First on the agenda was Callow Hill with its restored folly, I visited the trig as well although it's clearly lower. Another short drive and I parked near View Hill Farm, to walk to View Hill, no view of course, it was still pouring down. Across to Burrow which would be very interesting in better weather, again just a quick up and down. Northwest a little and the hardest climb of the day to attain the summit of Heath Mynd, this was hard going, pathless with deep heather and bilberry plants. The Stiperstones by comparison have a grand broad path leading unerringly to the rocky outcrop as it loomed out of the mist. A little scramble to touch the trig. As I parked on the road close to Pole Bank the high point of Long Mynd, the wind was driving the rain in just out and back was good enough for me today. The photos are poor, but then so was the weather, neither do these small but interesting hills justice.

Thursday, 9 June 2011

A great day, a ride over to the North York Moors on the BMW, with a Marilyn claimed as well! I woke to much better weather than forecast, so quickly dispatched the domestic chores and got the motorbike out. I wanted to call at Pennine Outdoor in High Bentham for some material for a bit of" MYOG", then crossed over to Wensleydale and on down the valley to Leyburn, Bedale and across the Vale of York to Osmotherly. Butties were eaten on a seat in the sun, last time I was in Osmotherly, I was with my mate Ian almost 2 years ago, walking the Cleveland Way. Lunch eaten I rode along narrow lanes, past Scugdale to climb the metalled road to park at Lordstones cafe. Cringle Moor and its summit of Drakes Howe is about a mile east of here, but the flagged path (Cleveland Way) follows the escarpment closer. The path made for easy going, last time I was here I should have visited the large Cairn which marks the highest point, but with many miles to cover that day we elected to stick to the Cleveland way. Marilyns weren't on the agenda then! I returned to Lordstones the same way, and treated myself to coffee and chocolate covered flapjack. I rode back home much the same way, content with a good ride and another hill climbed.

Monday, 6 June 2011

Just an evening ride on the pushbike, taking advantage of the evening sun. I had ridden via the villages of Storth and Sandside before riding through Dallam Park with its herd of Fallow Deer. Back home through Beetham. Nice to be out in the fresh air after a day in the Office.

Sunday, 5 June 2011

This was the last Marilyn left to "climb" in the lakes, it hadn't been left as the last for any particular reason, purely chance. Our route of ascent led us from the high point of the Corney Fell road following the wall north past Buckbarrow Crag and across the open fell to the gentle rise which brought us to the large cairn of Whit Fell. The summit cairn is huge, (there's lots of stones to build it!), there's also a trig, and the view extensive in all directions. Our path back to the car was much the same as our outward route, with the exception that I picked off the small top of Buckbarrow crag. The rain had been trying all the time we'd been out driven in on a cold easterly wind.

Thursday, 2 June 2011

Summer's here!! Well for a couple of days anyway! I took advantage of the beautiful day to have a day out on the motorbike. A circular ride via Dentdale, Wensleydale, Wharfedale and back home through Settle and High Bentham. A bit of a rest for my legs as walking seems abit painful due to a minor groin strain, seems ok on the pushbike though? Anyway an enjoyable day.